<HTML dir=ltr><HEAD><TITLE>Re: Chomsky: Obsolete?</TITLE>
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<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>I think it would be an interesting exercise if Robin (and other Anti-Chomskians) could give us a sense of how child language might have developed without Chomsky and why it would have benefited from his absence.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peter Gordon</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV id=idSignature14070 dir=ltr><PRE>Peter Gordon, Associate Professor
525 W 120th St. Box 180
Biobehavioral Sciences Department
Teachers College, Columbia University
New York, NY 10027
Office Phone: (212) 678-8162
FAX: (212) 678-8233
Web Page: www.tc.edu/faculty/index.htm?facid=pg328</PRE></DIV>
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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> info-childes@mail.talkbank.org on behalf of Anat Ninio<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thu 10/11/2007 6:29 AM<BR><B>To:</B> Jeff MacSwan<BR><B>Cc:</B> Anat Ninio; r.n.campbell; info-childes@mail.talkbank.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Chomsky: Obsolete?<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
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<P><FONT size=2>Well, generativism hasn't been the same since Chomsky turned his theory<BR>into a sub-type of Dependency Grammar! My enthusiasm for highly-abstract<BR>syntax as a framework for developmental theory has always been very<BR>restricted, so it's good news that Chomsky doesn't work that way any more.<BR><BR>Anat Ninio<BR><BR>Jeff MacSwan wrote:<BR>> It's not a surprise that those who are committed to frameworks which<BR>> disavow generativist work would gleefully await the day when the most<BR>> influential figure, who also created the field, is no longer "relevant."<BR>><BR>> But Chomsky's work actually continues to grow in significance and<BR>> influence, precisely due to its relevance not only to linguistics<BR>> generally, but also to the social sciences, the cognitive sciences,<BR>> computer science and mathematics, and philosophy.<BR>><BR>> While one can do interesting and important linguistic research that does<BR>> not heavily rely on Chomsky's own specific contributions to linguistic<BR>> theory, the idea that his work has generally lost relevance or<BR>> significance reflects a lack of acquaintance with the current<BR>> linguistics literature.<BR>><BR>> Jeff MacSwan<BR>><BR>> -----Original Message-----<BR>> From: info-childes@mail.talkbank.org<BR>> [<A href="mailto:info-childes@mail.talkbank.org">mailto:info-childes@mail.talkbank.org</A>] On Behalf Of Anat Ninio<BR>> Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 7:56 AM<BR>> To: r.n.campbell<BR>> Cc: info-childes@mail.talkbank.org<BR>> Subject: Re: Chomsky: Obsolete?<BR>><BR>> Hi Robin,<BR>><BR>> Chomsky actually changed his mind about what syntax is, so maybe he's<BR>> now a more relevant figure than before?<BR>><BR>> Anat Ninio<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> r.n.campbell wrote:<BR>> <BR>>>> *Competence vs. Performance: A False Distinction?*<BR>>>> <BR>>> A broader topic (which includes this one and is equally worth<BR>>> discussing) is that Noam Chomsky and all his works are also obsolete.<BR>>> For me, it will be a happy day when this is so.<BR>>> --<BR>>> <BR>>> Dr Robin N Campbell<BR>>> Dept of Psychology<BR>>> University of Stirling<BR>>> STIRLING FK9 4LA<BR>>> Scotland, UK<BR>>><BR>>> telephone: 01786-467649 facsimile: 01786-467641<BR>>> email: r.n.campbell@stir.ac.uk<BR>>> Website: <A href="http://www.psychology.stir.ac.uk/staff/rcampbell/index.php">http://www.psychology.stir.ac.uk/staff/rcampbell/index.php</A><BR>>><BR>>> --<BR>>><BR>>> The University of Stirling is a university established in Scotland by<BR>>> charter at Stirling, FK9 4LA. Privileged/Confidential Information may<BR>>> be contained in this message. If you are not the addressee indicated<BR>>> in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to such<BR>>> person), you may not disclose, copy or deliver this message to anyone<BR>>> and any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is<BR>>> prohibited and may be unlawful. In such case, you should destroy this<BR>>> message and kindly notify the sender by reply email. Please advise<BR>>> immediately if you or your employer do not consent to Internet email<BR>>> for messages of this kind.<BR>>><BR>>> <BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> <BR><BR><BR></FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>